As the oldest state in the United States, Delaware is full of outdoor landmarks, museums and historic sites that can enrich student education. These sites make history come alive, allow students to experience interactive learning and encourage socioemotional skills while students travel with their peers.
If you’re planning a field trip to Delaware, browse this list of the top destinations based on their usefulness for education, affordability and fun factor. You’ll find Delaware field trips for various weather conditions, student ages and educational interests. Plan the perfect field trip that enriches your students’ education today!
Research shows that time outside enhances creativity, critical thinking and positive mood in children. This is true for students of all ages, from preschoolers to teenagers. You can incorporate more outdoor time into the school year with field trips that take kids out of the classroom and into the great outdoors in Delaware.
Here are three field trip locations to consider.
If students are learning about agriculture and the environment, take them to Fifer’s. This business offers U-pick fruit and vegetable experiences, a farm store and fun fall activities. You can also download the Fifer’s Activity Book to help students learn about the importance of farming.
Field trips cost $10 per person for school groups, and there’s a minimum requirement of 15 people. You should schedule your trip ahead of time, especially in the fall. They have locations in Dewey Beach and Wyoming, Delaware.
This beautiful park is located on Delaware’s southern shore. It offers programs for kids packed with educational value, from learning about the lives of surfmen at the Indian River Life-Saving Station to hands-on activities like seining the bay, dissecting a squid and investigating dune ecosystems as a group. Costs vary per program but are very affordable!
Also located in the southern part of Delaware, this park offers a blend of nature and history. Opportunities for students include exploring Fort Miles, traversing hiking trails and visiting the Seaside Nature Center, where students can experience a 500-gallon touch tank, nature exhibits and a live Osprey camera feed. Contact the park for details on pricing!
There are many other state parks and outdoor options you can enjoy across the state. While it’s best to visit most of these locations in the spring or fall, some parks can be enjoyed during the winter with enough bundling up. These trips into nature will enrich your students’ education and create positive life-long memories.
During the winter, students can visit museums to learn about art and how people used to live in the state. These field trips will reinforce your class material and bring history to life for students. Here are three museums you should take students to this year.
This incredible museum is located in Dover and houses more than 30 aircraft from U.S. military history. Admission is free, although you do need to schedule school trips about a month ahead of time. This museum offers group tours, a flight simulator experience and historic exhibits. Open Wednesday to Sunday, this aircraft museum is a must-see for students who want to learn more about planes and U.S. military history.
If your students are learning about art, there’s no better place to expand their knowledge than the Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington. The cost is $6 per K-12 student, and this museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Field trip tours are designed with inclusive and equitable education principles and can be tailored to your curriculum.
To teach students about maritime history — specifically shipwrecks — travel to the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum on Fenwick Island. Because museum hours are subject to change, it’s important to call and schedule group trips ahead of time. This museum houses around 10,000 maritime artifacts, offers group tours and houses a working lab. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated!
If your students love visiting museums, don’t stop here. There are many incredible museums across Delaware, each of which can enrich your students’ educational experiences by bringing art and culture alive. Museums are anything but boring — they’re a way to remember the past and see how it intersects with the present.
Delaware is the oldest state in the U.S. and has many fascinating historic homes and forts. You can visit beautifully preserved historic buildings, military forts and other historic sites throughout the state. Here are three options for historic field trips for your students.
This historic fort can only be reached by riding a ferry, creating an exciting experience for students. You can visit Fort Delaware from April to September, and the park offers group admission rates. This fort has Civil War-era costumed interpreters, firing cannons and a hiking trail on Pea Patch Island Nature Preserve, where many bird species nest. You can also book programs like History Sleuths! Visiting this fort offers a rich educational experience that brings history to life in a fun, memorable way.
Located in Dover, this plantation was the childhood home of one of the founding fathers of the United States. Enjoy living history tours that depict what life was like for the Dickinson family, tenants, enslaved people and others. Guided tours of the mansion are available Thursday through Saturday. School groups need to make reservations over the phone, where you can learn more about admission costs.
This stunning French-style chateau in Wilmington has 77 rooms on 200 acres of beautiful land. Older students who are studying architecture and history will love visiting this estate, and they can learn through self-guided tours of the mansion, gardens and chauffeur’s garage. Group tours with more than 15 people get an admissions discount and are welcome from Tuesday to Friday.
Choosing a historic site to visit in Delaware is challenging because there are so many incredible options. Allow your students to experience history in real time at one of the many amazing historic sites across the state. Field trips are one of the best ways to nurture a love of history that will last a lifetime.
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